Rourkela, popularly called ‘Ispat Nagar’ or ‘The Steel City of Odisha’ is situated on the northern border of the state. It is home to one of the few large steel plants of SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited ) and is known as the Rourkela Steel Plant. The city also has one of the National Institute of Technology- NIT Rourkela. Rourkela has been shortlisted under the new Smart City mission launched by Government of India. One of the many famous attractions in Rourkela includes Hanuman Vatika where there is a 75-feet tall idol of Lord Hanumana. Rourkela has several beautiful parks to its credit such as the Indira Gandhi Park, Nehru Traffic Park, Jubilee Park, Mrig Vihar, and the Green Park.
Best Time to Visit Rourkela
The best time to visit Rourkela is in the winter season that ranges from the months of October to March. Since Rourkela witnesses hot and humid climate throughout the year, the summer months can be rather uncomfortable. The cool and comfortable weather during winter is ideal for sightseeing and other outdoor activities. The Vedvyas Mela held annually in February attract a large number of tourists.
Weather Of Rourkela
Rourkela experiences topical climatic conditions, characteristic of hot and humid summers, wet monsoons, and cool, dry winter. May is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of 32 °C. Heavy downpour in the monsoon months provides a respite from the sultry summer days. Rourkela witnesses an average annual rainfall of about 160 to200 cm. December is the driest month of the year with very little or no rainfall. The average temperature in the winter season hovers around a cool 19 °C but you can expect the mercury to dip as low as 9 °C.
How to Reach Rourkela?
By Air : Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi is located at a distance of 140 km, which can be covered after a 4-hour road journey. Buses and taxis are easily available from the airport premises. Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar, on the other hand, is situated at a distance of 237 km which takes about 5 hours to reach by road.
By Rail : Rourkela Railway station located in the North-Western part of Odisha serves Rourkela and almost the whole of Sundergarh district. It is set on the Howrah-Mumbai railway track as well as the Ranchi-Bhubaneswar railway track. Thanks to this rail network, Rourkela is connected to all main cities of India.
By Road : State Highway number 10 and National Highway number 23 connects Rourkela to various other cities of Odisha such as Bhubaneswar and Puri. Rourkela has buses operating to and from almost all nearby major cities such as Kolkata, Ranchi, and Raipur.